Robert A. Simmons

Garden City, Kansas

Career Background:

I was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri and in 1975 began a 27-year career in Radio Broadcasting in Fulton, Missouri. Now retired, I began as a DJ, and worked my way across the Midwest, and up the ranks from Program Director to Operations Manager, to Sales Manager, to finish my career as General Manager in Garden City, Kansas. I also spent 10-years selling modular homes in Garden City.

Modeling Background:

My Father started me in model railroading in 1962 with a Lionel HO-scale train set, and I have been an active modeler ever since, as time and money allowed. In 1994, I joined the local Boot Hill Model Railroad Club, and helped construct the Clubs N-scale, N-Trak layout. In 2008 I was voted in to the Vice-President position of the Club, a position I have held ever since.

Also in 2008, I discovered the NMRA, became a member, and since the Division was inactive, I was appointed the Division Director, a position which I have also held since. Since joining the NMRA, I have tried to promote the hobby as much as possible, promote the NMRA in general, and the Western Kansas Division specifically. Each month, I publish a electronic newsletter for the Division entitled "The Main Line", which I send to anyone who requests a copy. Realizing a need to change recruitment tactics, I created a website for the Western Kansas Division, which you can view at wkd-nmra.org. I am also working on a Division Facebook page, and a Twitter account.

For a couple of years, I have contributed to the Caboose Kibitzer, and have offered several photos and articles for publication.

As we have all grown older, most of my fellow local club members have opted to leave N-scale to build small On30 layouts, but I am currently constructing my own, sectional, N-scale layout measuring 18-feet by 24-feet, to replace my older N-Trak layout. I have also purchased a former ambulance to transport the layout to train shows around the area. Besides my "Western Kansas Rails" traveling layout, I also work on my home N-scale layout which is designed for operations and DCC control, and assist anyone else who needs help on their layout